Slugline   Shining Stars

January 31, 2001

Brunswick   News

Section(s) Entertainment

 

By SHAUNDRA L. LEE

News Staff Writer

 

The kids who wind up at the Morningstar Baptist Treatment Center have several strikes against them.

 

They are all mentally retarded. Mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder are common.

 

Almost all of them have experienced neglect. Social skills and table manners are lacking. Most are overweight and have little consideration for hygiene.

 

Many have been neglected by their families, and mentally, physically or sexually abused.

 

Add all those strikes up, and it's not hard to see how many might feel they've struck out at the game of life.

 

"They have no self esteem. They feel like God doesn't love them," said Morningstar's clinical director, Renee Bennett.

 

That's where Morningstar comes in.

 

Morningstar is a 24-hour intermediate residential treatment program for severely disturbed, mentally retarded young people.

 

The center, which opened in 1997, is located at the old Youth Estate Center on Georgia Highway 99 near Darien.

 

Most of the children who are sent to Morningstar have already been placed in an average of 19 treatment centers, Bennett said.

 

They range in age from seven to 17. They are usually wards of the state and some have been removed from their families. They typically stay at Morningstar for one year.

 

The center is currently experiencing a 70 percent success rate with the youth it sees, but that success comes with a price.

 

Now, the center is reaching out the community for help in paying it.

 

Several Golden Isles residents are organizing the center's appeal. They've formed the Morningstar Auxiliary to try and raise financial as well as community support for the center.

 

The idea for the group stemmed from a visit Morningstar's staff made to the First Baptist Church on St. Simons Island.

 

Subsequently, church member and auxiliary founder Nancy Bartlett visited the center last fall. It had a profound effect on her life.

 

"It changed my life," Bartlett said. "I realized how blessed I am."

 

Morningstar is a private, non-profit entity that is owned by a board of directors and contracted by the state.

 

The state provides only per diem funding for each child to cover food, treatment, housing and schooling.

 

Mrs. Bartlett, along with a few others, decided to form an auxiliary to help the school provide needs the state doesn't meet.

 

For instance, they provide a pizza hour every month or so to provide a little enjoyment for the children.

 

Mrs. Bartlett often takes her children with her so they can get an appreciation of their lives.

 

"They need to see how blessed they are ... how lucky they are to be able to get pizza almost whenever they want," she said.

 

Another activity the group held for the kids was a Fall Festival on the campus grounds, complete with games offering prizes, food and treats.

 

The next event will be a Christmas decoration party.The group's membership, a hodgepodge of mostly women from different denominations, is now 25 strong and gaining. After a year of building, they're ready to push for more community support.

 

The main focus right now is to refurbish the campus and expand its capabilities.

 

The center is located on the old Boys Estate, which was originally built in the 1930s.

 

Putting new flooring in the living cottages is the first step in an ambitious plan to upgrade the aging facility, including restoring the gymnasium and building an additional cottage to increase capacity.

 

"It's important for the kids to feel good about their surroundings," auxiliary member Amy Culver said. "It's easier to get better when you don't have to worry about broken tiles."

 

So far, the group's efforts, along with support from the staff, has gotten a good response.

 

The main obstacle is getting the word out about the program.

 

"We have been working with several groups, but people just don't know that we're here," Ms. Bennett said.

 

Would-be donors often assume incorrectly that the center is under the auspices of the Baptist Church.

 

Morningstar is not an exclusively Baptist entity, although it's in the official name. Many denominations work with the center.

 

The Rev. Joe Brice, the center's chaplain and community relations coordinator, is a Presbyterian minister.

 

Brice pointed out that all the kids are not Baptist. He invites other ministries to come to the center.

 

"These kids don't care about that," he said. "They just want to know that you love them and care."